Month: April 2018

The 2018 baseball season is in full swing. Use my MLB expert this week to bet and cash in. Let’s fast forward to Friday when the Chicago Cubs head to St. Louis to battle the Cardinals in one of the great rivalries in sports. Can the Cubs beat the Cards on the road?

On Saturday, Detroit faces off against Kansas City in a huge game. Who takes it when KC hosts the rival Tigers?

Then, on Sunday, the Dodgers battle San Diego in Monterrey, Mexico. Will the Dodgers show up versus the Padres across the border?

MLB Expert Picks April 30 – May 6

Analysis: In his last start, Cubs listed starter Jose Quintana turned his form around. Quintana hadn’t pitched well until throwing a 2-hitter versus the Milwaukee Bucks on April 28. He looked great in that game.

Can Quintana carry over his great form to this Friday’s matchup versus the Cardinals? St. Louis bats .328 versus Quintana. It’s hard to see Jose pitching as well on Friday as he did in his last. I just don’t see Chicago beating St. Louis on May 4.

Analysis: Detroit battles Kansas City on Saturday, May 5, in a game that could go either way. Detroit sends Jordan Zimmerman to the mound. Zimmerman has a 7.91 ERA this season. Versus the KC Royals, Zimmerman’s given up 38 hits from 140 at-bats. The Royals hit .271 versus Zimmerman.

KC counters Zimmerman with Jason Hammel. Hammel is 0 and 2. But, he’s got a 3.38 ERA. His WHIP is a decent 1.16. Hammel should do enough to keep Detroit’s batters from pummeling Kansas City.

Analysis: The Dodgers and Padres throw down in Mexico this weekend. L.A. starts ace Clayton Kershaw on Sunday, May 6. Kershaw has a nice 2.84 ERA. Unfortunately, his record is a horrendous 1 and 4.

The Padres list Eric Lauer as their starter on Sunday. Lauer’s 18 ERA and 3.33 WHIP are as bad as it gets. No, that’s not a misprint. Lauer has an 18 ERA. Does that mean that the Dodgers absolutely dominate the Padres on Sunday?

Maybe, not. Lauer only pitched 3 innings in his lone start this season. He allowed 6 earned runs off 6 hits. The game was in Colorado. He never had a shot. He might pitch much better on May 6.

I’m taking a shot on the Padres. The odds should be fantastic given Eric Lauer’s last start.

The 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs hit the second round with eight teams left. Who are the 2018 NHL playoff oddsmakers picking to win it? Which team should you bet on to raise the Stanley Cup at the end of it all? Is there a longshot bet that you should consider? Keep reading for answers to those questions and more.

Odds & Picks To Win The 2018 Stanley Cup

Is this the year for the Predators to bring a championship to Music City, USA? The NHL oddsmakers definitely believe that the 2018 Stanley Cup will make its home in Nashville this offseason.

The Nashville bounced back after losing the Stanley Cup last season to the Pens with a 117-point and Presidents’ Trophy winning season. Is the next logical step a Stanley Cup?

The reigning conference champion will face the electric Winnipeg Jets. This is a matchup worthy for the Cup Final. Let’s hope it doesn’t disappoint.

The Smart Pick To Win The 2018 Stanley Cup: Winnipeg Jets

This is Canada’s last chance at the Stanley Cup this season. The whole nation will be behind the upstart Jets. Sadly, Winnipeg will face last year’s Cinderella story, the upset candidate-turned-Stanley Cup runner-up, the Nashville Predators.

This series features big-time scorers, two of the game’s best goalies and big hulking defenders. Add all that up and this will be the most fun NHL best of seven series in years.

The Longshot Pick To Win The 2018 Stanley Cup: Washington Capitals

Washington is the best of the bottom three remaining Stanley Cup hopefuls. Boston and San Jose are old. The Bruins had a long seven game series versus Toronto. That is why I am picking the Caps as the 2018 longshot Stanley Cup pick.

The 2018 Kentucky Derby takes place on Saturday, May 5th. All Derby Preps have already completed. The early 2018 Kentucky Derby odds are out. Who is the early betting favorite to win the 2018 Kentucky Derby? Is there a smart bet? Is there a long shot that can take the first jewel of the Triple Crown?

The Early 2018 Kentucky Derby Betting Favorite: Justify +370

The way Justify won the Santa Anita Derby sent his odds careening down to 5/2. Before the Santa Anita Derby, he was a 5/1 shot. Based on breeding, sired by Scat Daddy, and trainer, Bob Baffert won the Triple Crown with American Pharoah in 2015, there’s no reason to believe Justify can’t win the Kentucky Derby on May 5.

Okay. There is one reason. No horse has won the Derby after not racing at 2 since Apollo in 1882. That’s a ton of history that Justify must overcome. To overcome such history, Justify not only must be the best horse on May 5, but he must be the best horse on May 5 by leaps and bounds.

I believe that makes him a play against at low odds.

The Early 2018 Kentucky Derby Smart Pick: Mendelssohn +470

On May 5, Mendelssohn’s odds should be around 5/1 or less to win the Kentucky Derby. The UAE Derby winner is trained by Aidan O’Brien, arguably the best horse racing trainer in the world, and has the breeding to upset a horse like Justify.

Mendelssohn is a half brother to Justify. Both were sired by Scat Daddy. The difference is that Mendelssohn’s mother also birthed great mare Beholder. So, not only is Mendelssohn a half-brother to Justify, he’s also a half-brother to arguably the best mare that’s run in the United States in the past 8 years.

Worried about Mendelssohn getting the distance? Beholder won the 1 ¼ mile Pacific Classic a few years back. Mendelssohn will get the Kentucky Derby distance.

The 2018 Kentucky Derby Longshot Pick: Vino Rosso +1400

I, like everyone else, is a fan of Magnum Moon’s. The Arkansas Derby winner is trainer Todd Pletcher’s top Derby prospect heading into May 5. However, Vino Rosso, who took home the Wood Memorial, has the right to be as good as Magnum Moon on Derby Day.

Vino Rosso got bumped in the stretch and still managed to beat Enticed for the Wood Memorial trophy. He’s bred to be as good as he needs to be. He also hasn’t peaked, which is why he’s my longshot choice.